Which types of oats are best?

The best type of oat will be determined by your dietary needs, what you’re using them for, and your texture preferences. For instance, steel cut oats have the lowest glycemic index and may be best for those looking to control their blood sugar. However, generally speaking, all oats are highly nutritious! Ultimately, what is “best” is up to you!

What can I make with oats?

There are endless ways to use oats! Bake them, boil them, microwave them, pulse them, and more! To get you started, some of our favorite ways to use oats include crepes , overnight oats , protein bars , and more! Of course, they’re also great cooked and topped with all your favorite ingredients like fresh fruit, nut or seed butter, coconut flakes, and more!

Is there a good substitute for oats?

If you can’t tolerate oats, there are lots of substitutions for pretty much every way they’re used. For instance, for a warm breakfast bowl, swap out quinoa or cream of rice. Or, for baked goods, use a gluten free flour alternative like almond flour. Just be sure to adjust the ratios as necessary.

Types of Oats & How to Cook Oats

Description

Learn the basics on how to cook oats on the stove top, microwave, and in the Instant Pot for an easy gluten free breakfast.

Ingredients

Units Scale

1/2 – 1 cup gluten free oats (steel cut, rolled, or quick)
Water or non-dairy milk
Dash of salt

*See notes for cooked amounts. *See cooking methods below for exact ingredient amounts.

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Instructions

Stovetop Option

For Steel Cut Oats:

Add 3 ½ – 4 cups of water to a saucepan. Boil over high heat.
Once boiling, add 1 cup of oats and salt if using.
Reduce the heat to low. Simmer 20-25 minutes or until the desired consistency is reached.

For Rolled Oats:

Add 1 cup of water to a saucepan. Boil over high heat.
Once boiling, add ½ cup of oats and salt if using.
Reduce the heat to low. Simmer for 5 minutes or until the desired consistency is reached.

For Quick Oats:

Add 1 cup of water to a saucepan. Boil over high heat.
Once boiling, add ½ cup of oats and salt if using.
Reduce the heat to low. Simmer for 1 minute or until the desired consistency is reached.

Instant Pot Option

For Steel Cut Oats:

Add 1 cup of oats, 3 cups of water, and a pinch of salt to the Instant Pot.
Press the Manual setting, and cook for 3 minutes on high. Let the oats natural release for 20 minutes.
Flip the release valve to get rid of any remaining steam, and serve.

For Rolled Oats:

Add 1 cup of oats, 2 cups of water, and a pinch of salt to the Instant Pot.
Press the Manual setting, and cook for 3 minutes on high. Let the oats natural release for 20 minutes.
Flip the release valve to get rid of any remaining steam, and serve.

Notes

For a quick option, cook oats in the microwave using this guide. Just be sure to adjust cooking times based on the microwave used.

1 cup of uncooked steel cut oats will yield about 2 1/2 to 3 cups of cooked oats
1/2 cup rolled oats or quick oats will yield 3/4 cup to 1 cup of cooked oats.

For a overnight oats option see here.

Prep Time: 1 minute
Cook Time: 3 -25 minutes
Category: Breakfast
Method: Instant Pot, Stove Top, Slow Cooker, Microwave
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1/4 - 1/2 cup, dry oats (varies per type of oats)
Calories: 150 - 180 calories
Fat: 2.5 - 3 grams
Carbohydrates: 27 g - 32 grams
Fiber: 4 - 6 grams
Protein: 5 -7 grams